Radio device

ABSTRACT

A method including configuring a processor to determine whether a radio device is communicating with an additional device, configuring the radio device to enter into a power state in response to whether the radio device is communicating with the additional device, and modifying an amount of power supplied to the radio device in response to the power state of the radio device.

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/260,363, filed Sep. 25, 2011, which is a national stage applicationunder 35 U.S.C. §371 of PCT/US2009/065845, filed Nov. 25, 2009, whichare both hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND

When a radio device is communicating with one or more additionaldevices, the radio device can be configured to receive electricalenergy. Once the radio device has received the electrical energy, theradio device can be configured to communicate with one or moreadditional devices by sending and/or receiving data to one or more ofthe additional devices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various features and advantages of the disclosed embodiments will beapparent from the detailed description which follows, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, which together illustrate,by way of example, features of the embodiments.

FIG. 1 illustrates a machine coupled to a radio device and a powersource according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a radio device communicating with one or moreadditional devices according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3A illustrates a block diagram of a radio device entering a highpower state in response to communicating with an additional deviceaccording to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3B illustrates a block diagram of a radio device transitioning to alow power state when not communication with an additional deviceaccording to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a machine with an embedded power managementapplication and a power management application stored on a removablemedium being accessed by the machine according to an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating a method for managing an amount ofpower supplied to a radio device in response to a power state of theradio device according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a method for managing an amount ofpower supplied to a radio device in response to a power state of theradio device according to another embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a machine 100 coupled to a radio device 130 and apower source 160 according to an embodiment of the invention. In oneembodiment, the machine 100 is a desktop, a laptop, a server, and/or anydevice that a radio device 130 can be coupled to. As illustrated in FIG.1, the machine 100 is coupled to a storage device 170, a processor 120,a radio device 130, a power source 160, and a communication bus 150 forthe machine 100 and/or one or more components of the machine 100 tocommunicate with one another.

Further, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the storage device 140 stores a powermanagement application 110. In other embodiments, the machine 100includes additional components and/or is coupled to additionalcomponents in addition to and/or in lieu of those noted above and asillustrated in FIG. 1.

As noted above, the machine 100 includes a processor 120. The processor120 sends data and/or instructions to one or more components of themachine 100, such as the storage device 140, the radio device 130, thepower source 160, and the power management application 110.Additionally, the processor 120 receives data and/or instruction fromone or more components of the machine 100, such as the radio device 130and the power management application 110.

The power management application 110 is an application which canconfigure the processor 120 to monitor and/or poll the radio device 130to determine whether the radio device 130 is communicating with one ormore additional devices. For the purposes of this application, a radiodevice 130 is communicating with an additional device when one or morecomponents of the radio device 130 are sending and/or receiving data.

One or more components of the radio device 130 are sending and/orreceiving data when the radio device 130 is establishing a connectionwith an additional device, when the radio device 130 is maintaining aconnection with an additional device, and/or when the radio device 130is transferring data between the radio device 130 and an additionaldevice. In other embodiments, the radio device 130 can be communicatingwith an additional device when performing additional functions inaddition to and/or in lieu of those noted above.

Additionally, the power management application 110 can configure theradio device 130 to enter and/or transition into one or more powerstates in response to determining whether the radio device 130 iscommunicating with one or more additional device. Further, the powermanagement application 110 can modify an amount of power supplied to theradio device 130 in response a power state of the radio device 130.

The power management application 110 can be firmware which is embeddedonto the machine 100 or the radio device 130. In another embodiment, thepower management application 110 operates as a BIOS of the machine 100.In other embodiments, the power management application 110 is a softwareapplication stored on the machine 100 within ROM or on the storagedevice 140 accessible by the machine 100 or the power managementapplication 110 is stored on a computer readable medium readable andaccessible by the machine 100 from a different location.

Additionally, in one embodiment, the storage device 140 is included inthe machine 100. In other embodiments, the storage device 140 is notincluded in the machine 100, but is accessible to the machine 100utilizing a network interface of the machine 100. The network interfacecan be a wired or wireless network interface card.

In a further embodiment, the power management application 110 is storedand/or accessed through a server coupled through a local area network ora wide area network. The power management application 110 communicateswith devices and/or components coupled to the machine 100 physically orwirelessly through a communication bus 150 included in or attached tothe machine 100. In one embodiment the communication bus 150 is a memorybus. In other embodiments, the communication bus 150 is a data bus.

As noted above, the power management application 110 can configure aprocessor 120 to monitor and/or poll the radio device 130 to determinewhether the radio device 130 is communicating with an additional device.When configuring the processor 120, the power management application 110can send one or more instructions for the processor 120 to monitorand/or poll the radio device 130. One or more of the instructions cancontinuously or periodically be sent by the power management application110 for the processor 120 to monitor and/or poll the radio device 130 todetermine whether the radio device 130 is communicating with anadditional device.

In determining whether the radio device 130 is communicating with anadditional device, the power management application 110 can monitorand/or poll the radio device 130 and/or one or more components of theradio device 130 to for data being sent to or from the radio device 130.In another embodiment, the power management application 110 can monitorand/or poll one or more communication ports on the machine 100 for databeing sent to the radio device 130 and/or to one or more components ofthe radio device 130 from an additional device.

A radio device 130 is a communication device coupled to the machine 100which can communicate with one or more additional devices by receivingand/or sending data. The radio device 130 can send and/or receive dataperiodically or in response to receiving data from an additional device.

Additionally, the radio device 130 can enter and/or transition into oneor more power states in response to whether the radio device 130 iscommunicating with an additional device. When the radio device 130enters and/or transitions into one or more of the power states, anamount of power supplied to the radio device 130 from a power source 160of the machine 100 can be modified.

In one embodiment, the radio device 130 is a network interface deviceand can be configured to communicate with one or more additional deviceswirelessly or through a physical connection. In other embodiments, theradio device 130 can be other additional communication devices which canbe configured to communicate with one or more additional devices byreceiving and/or sending data.

As noted above, the radio device 130 can include one or more components.In one embodiment, one or more of the components can include atransceiver and/or a transmitter. The transceiver can be configured toreceive data when communicating with an additional device. Additionally,the transmitter can be configured to send data when communicating withan additional device.

Further, an additional device can also be a communication device whichis configured to communicate with the radio device 130. In oneembodiment, the additional device is also a network interface device. Inother embodiments, the additional device can be any additionalcommunication device which can be configured to communicate with theradio device 130 wireles sly or through a physical connection by sendingand/or receiving data.

As noted above, the radio device 130 can be configured to enter and/ortransition into one or more power states. In configuring the radiodevice 130 to enter and/or transition into one or more of the powerstates, the power management application 110 can instruct and/orconfigure the processor 120 to send one or more instructions for theradio device 130 to enter and/or transition into a power state inresponse to whether the radio device 130 is communicating with anadditional device.

In one embodiment, if the processor 120 identifies that the radio device130 is communicating with an additional device, the processor 120 cannotify the power management application 110 that the radio device 130communicating. The power manager application 110 can then send aninstruction for the processor 120 to access the radio device 130 andsend instructions for the radio device 130 to enter into the high powerstate.

In another embodiment, if the processor 120 identifies that the radiodevice 130 is idle, the processor 120 can notify the power managementapplication 110 that the radio device 130 is idle. The power managementapplication 110 then sends an instruction for the processor 120 toaccess the radio device 130 and send instructions for the radio device130 to enter into the low power state. In other embodiments, one or morecomponents of the radio device 130 can configure and/or instruct theradio device 130 to enter and/or transition into one or more of thepower states.

A power state is a state the radio device 130 can enter and/ortransition into in response to whether the radio device 130 iscommunicating with an additional device. Additionally, the power statecorresponds to an amount of power consumed by the radio device 130. Inone embodiment, the radio device 130 can enter and/or transition into ahigh power state when the radio device is communicating with anadditional device. Additionally, when in the high power state, the radiodevice 130 can consume more power for the radio device 130 and one ormore components of the radio device 130 to communicate with theadditional device.

In another embodiment, the radio device 130 can enter and/or transitioninto a low power state when the radio device 130 is idle. For thepurposes of this application, the radio device 130 is determined to beidle when one or more components of the radio device 130 are notcommunicating with an additional device. When the radio device 130 is inthe low power state, the radio device 130 consumes less power than whenthe radio device is in the power state since one or more components ofthe radio device 130 are not communicating with an additional device. Inother embodiments, one or more of the power states include additionalpower states in addition to and/or in lieu of those noted above.

In one embodiment, the power management application 110 can configurethe processor 120 to send an instruction for the radio device 130 toenter and/or transition into a high power state when the radio device130 is communicating with one or more additional devices. In anotherembodiment, the power management application 110 can configure theprocessor 120 to send an instruction for the radio device 130 to enterand/or transition into a low power state when the radio device 130 idle.

In other embodiments, the radio device 130 can poll one or morecomponents of the radio device 130 to determine when one or morecomponents of the radio device 130 are communicating with an additionaldevice. In response to whether the components are communicating withadditional device, the radio device 130 can automatically enter and/ortransition between one more of the power states and send information ofentering and/or transitioning between the power states to the powermanagement application 110.

As noted above, the radio device 130 can enter and/or transition betweenone or more of the power states periodically or in response to receivingdata from an additional device. Once the radio device 130 has enteredand/or transitioned into one or more of the power states, the powermanagement application 110 can configure a power source 160 to modify anamount of power supplied to the radio device 130.

A power source 160 is a power device of the machine 100 which can beconfigured to receive, store, and/or transfer power and/or electricalenergy. Additionally, the power source 160 is configured to supply andmodify an amount of power supplied to one or more components of themachine 100, such as the radio device 130, in response to a power stateof the radio device 130. In one embodiment, the power source 160 is apower supply of the machine 100. In other embodiments, the power source160 can be additional electrical energy storage devices which can beconfigured to supply and modify an amount of power supplied to the radiodevice 130.

When modifying an amount of power supplied to the radio device 130, thepower management application 110 configures the power source 160 toincrease or decrease an amount of electrical energy supplied to theradio device 130. In one embodiment, if the radio device 130 is in ahigh power state, the power management application 110 configures thepower source 160 to increase an amount of electrical energy supplied tothe radio device 130. In another embodiment, if the radio device 130 isin a low power state, the power management application 110 configuresthe power source 160 to decrease an amount of electrical energy suppliedto the radio device 130.

FIG. 2 illustrates a radio device 230 communicating with one or moreadditional devices 270 according to an embodiment of the invention. Asillustrated in FIG. 2, the radio device 230 is coupled to a power supply260, a processor 220, and a power management application 210 of amachine 200.

As noted above, the radio device 230 is a communication device which cancommunicate with an additional device 270 by sending and/or receivingdata. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the additional device 270 is also acommunication device which can communicate with the radio device 230 byreceiving and/or transmitting data.

Additionally, as noted above, the radio device 230 sends and/or receivesdata utilizing one or more components included in the radio device 230,such as a transceiver 280 and/or a transmitter 290. One or more of thecomponents send and/or receive data when establishing a connection withthe additional device 270, when maintaining a connection with theadditional device 270, and/or when transferring data between the radiodevice 230 and the additional device 270.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, a power management application 210 is coupledto a processor 220 and a power supply 260 of the machine 200. As notedabove, the power management application 210 can configure the processor220 to monitor and/or poll the radio device 230 determine whether theradio device 230 is communicating with the additional device 270. Inother embodiments, the radio device 230 can send information to theprocessor 220 and/or the power management application 210 when thetransceiver 280 and/or the transmitter 290 are communicating with theadditional device 270.

Additionally, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the radio device 230 can enterand/or transition into one or more power states 240, 250 in response towhether the radio device 230 is communication with an additional device270. As noted above, the radio device 230 enters and/or transitions intoa high power state 240 when the processor 220 determines that the radiodevice 230 is communicating with an additional device 270.

Further, the radio device 230 enters and/or transitions into a low powerstate 250 when the processor determines that the radio device 230 isidle. As noted above, the radio device 230 is idle when none of thecomponents of the radio device 230 are communicating with an additionaldevice 270. In other embodiments, the radio device 230 can includeadditional power states in addition to and/or in lieu of those notedabove and illustrated in FIG. 2.

Further, as noted above, the power management application 210 can modifyan amount of power supplied to the radio device 230 in response to apower state of the radio device 230. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the powermanagement application 210 can configure the processor 220 to send oneor more instructions to modify an amount of electrical energy the powersource 260 provides the radio device 230.

FIG. 3A illustrates a block diagram of a radio device 330 entering ahigh power state 340 in response to communicating with an additionaldevice 370 according to an embodiment of the invention. As noted above,the radio device 330 can enter and/or transition into one or more powerstates 340, 350 in response to whether the radio device 330 iscommunicating with an additional device 370. As shown in FIG. 3A, one ormore of the power states can include a high power state 340 and a lowpower state 350.

Additionally, as illustrated in FIG. 3A, in one embodiment, the powermanagement application 310 determines that the radio device 330 iscommunicating with an additional device 370 since the radio device 330is sending and/or receiving data with the additional device 370. Asnoted above, the power management application 310 can configure aprocessor to monitor and/or poll the radio device 330 when determiningwhether the radio device 330 is communicating with the additional device370. In other embodiments, the power management application 310 canreceive information of a communication from the radio device 330.

As shown in FIG. 3A, in response to the radio device 330 communicatingwith the additional device 330, the radio device 330 enters and/ortransitions into the high power state 340. As noted above, the radiodevice 330 can be instructed by the processor and/or the powermanagement application 310 to enter the high power state 340. In otherembodiments, the radio device 330 can enter and/or transition into thehigh power state 340 without a prompt from the processor or the powermanagement application 310.

As noted above, when in the high power state 340, the radio device isconsuming more power than when the radio device 330 is in a low powerstate 350. Additionally, as illustrated in FIG. 3A, the power managementapplication 310 additionally configures a power source 360 of a machineto increase an amount of power supplied to the radio device 330. Asillustrated in FIG. 3, in one embodiment, the power source 360 is apower supply 360 and the power supply 360 is configured to increase anamount of electrical energy supplied to the radio device 330.

FIG. 3B illustrates a block diagram of a radio device 330 transitioningto a low power state 350 when not communication with an additionaldevice 370 according to an embodiment of the invention. As noted above,the radio device 330 is idle when not communicating with any additionaldevice 370.

Additionally, as noted above, the power management application 310 caninitially configure a processor of a machine to poll and/or monitor theradio device 330 to determine whether the radio device 330 iscommunicating with an additional device 370. In other embodiments, theradio device 330 is not monitored or polled and the radio device 330 cansend information to the processor and/or the power managementapplication 310 specifying whether the radio device 330 is communicatingwith an additional device 370.

As illustrated in the present embodiment, the radio device 330 is notsending and/or receiving data with the additional device 370. As aresult, the radio device 330 is not communicating with the additionaldevice 360 and the radio device 330 is idle.

As shown in FIG. 3B, when the radio device 330 is idle, the radio device330 can to enter and/or transition into a low power state 350. As notedabove, the radio device 330 can be instructed to enter and/or transitioninto the low power state or the radio device 330 can enter and/ortransition into the low power state itself. Once the radio device hasentered/transitioned into the low power state, the power managementapplication 310 configures a power source 360 of the machine to decreasean amount of power supplied to the radio device 330.

As noted above, when configuring the power source 360 to decrease anamount of power supplied, the power management application 310configures the processor of the machine to instruct the power source 360to decrease an amount electrical energy supplied to the radio device330. As illustrated in FIG. 3B, the power source 360 decreases an amountof electrical energy supplied to the radio device 330.

FIG. 4 illustrates a machine 400 with an embedded power managementapplication 410 and a power management application 410 stored on aremovable medium being accessed by the machine 400 according to anembodiment of the invention. For the purposes of this description, aremovable medium is any tangible apparatus that contains, stores,communicates, or transports the application for use by or in connectionwith the machine 400. As noted above, in one embodiment, the powermanagement application 410 is firmware that is embedded into one or morecomponents of the machine 400 as ROM. In other embodiments, the powermanagement application 410 is a software application which is stored andaccessed from a hard drive, a compact disc, a flash disk, a networkdrive or any other form of computer readable medium that is coupled tothe machine 400.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating a method for managing an amount ofpower supplied to a radio device in response to a power state of theradio device according to an embodiment of the invention. The method ofFIG. 5 uses a machine with a processor, a radio device, a power source,and a power management application. In other embodiments, the method ofFIG. 5 uses additional components and/or devices in addition to and/orin lieu of those noted above and illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, 3A, 3B, and4.

As noted above, the power management application initially configures aprocessor of the machine to monitor and/or poll a radio device todetermine whether the radio device is communicating with one or moreadditional devices 500. Additionally, as noted above, the powermanagement application can operate as a firmware of the radio device orthe power management application can operate as a BIOS of the machine.In other embodiments, the radio device is not monitored or polled andthe radio device sends information to the processor and/or the powermanagement application when the radio device is communicating with anadditional device.

As noted above, the radio device is a communication device coupled tothe machine which can communicate with one or more additional deviceswirelessly or through a physical connection by receiving and/or sendingdata. In one embodiment, the radio device is a network interface device.Additionally, as noted above, the radio device can include one or morecomponents. One or more of the components can include one or moretransmitters and/or one or more transceivers.

Further, one or more of the additional devices can also be communicationdevices configured to communicate with the radio device by sendingand/or receiving data.

As noted above, in response to determining whether the radio device iscommunicating with the additional device, the power managementapplication can proceed to configure the radio device to enter and/ortransition into one or more power states 510. As noted above, one ormore of the power states can include a high power state and a low powerstate. In other embodiments, one or more of the power states can includeadditional power state levels in addition to and/or in lieu of thosenoted above.

When configuring the radio device to enter into one or more of the powerstates, the power management application can configure a processor ofthe machine to send one or more instructions for the radio device totransition to and transition from one or more of the power states. Inone embodiment, if the power management application determines that theradio device is currently communicating with the additional device, thepower management can send an instruction for the radio device to enterinto a high power mode.

In another embodiment, if the power management application determinesthat the radio device is idle, the power management application can sendan instruction for the radio device to transition into a low power mode.As noted above, the radio device is idle when the radio device is notcommunicating with an additional device.

In other embodiments, the radio device can automatically transitionbetween one or more of the power states in response to whether the radiodevice is communicating with an additional device. The radio device canthen send information of entering and/or transitioning between the powerstates to the processor and/or the power management application.

Once the radio device has entered and/or transitioned into one or moreof the power states, the power management application can proceed toconfigure a power source of the machine to modify an amount of powersupplied to the radio device in response to the power state of the radiodevice 520. As noted above, in one embodiment, the power source of themachine is a power supply of the machine.

When modifying an amount of power supplied to the radio device, thepower management application can configure the power source to increaseor decrease an amount of electrical energy supplied to the radio device.In one embodiment, if the radio device is in a high power state, thepower management application can configure the power source to increasean amount of electrical energy supplied to the radio device. In anotherembodiment, if the radio device is in a low power state, the powermanagement application can configure the power source to decrease anamount of electrical energy supplied to the radio device.

The method is then complete or the power management application cancontinue to configure the processor monitor and/or poll the radio deviceto determine whether a radio device is communicating with one or moreadditional devices and proceed to modify an amount of power supplied tothe radio device in response to a power state of the radio device. Inother embodiments, the method of FIG. 5 includes additional steps inaddition to and/or in lieu of those depicted in FIG. 5.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a method for managing an amount ofpower supplied to a radio device in response to a power state of theradio device according to another embodiment of the invention. Similarto the method disclosed in FIG. 5, the method of FIG. 6 uses a machinewith a processor, a radio device, a power source, and a power managementapplication. In other embodiments, the method of FIG. 6 uses additionalcomponents and/or devices in addition to and/or in lieu of those notedabove and illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, 3A, 3B, and 4.

As noted above, the power management application can be launched fromcomputer readable memory and initially configures the processor of themachine to determine whether the radio device is receiving and/ortransmitting data with an additional device 600. Additionally, as notedabove, the radio device is communicating with an additional device whenone or more components of the radio device are sending and/or receivingdata.

One or more of the components are sending and/or receiving data whenestablishing a connection with an additional device, when maintaining aconnection with an additional deice, and/or when transferring databetween the radio device and an additional device.

When determining whether the radio device is communicating with anadditional device, the processor and/or the power management applicationcan poll one or more components on the radio device for data beingreceived and/or transmitted. If the processor and/or the powermanagement application detect one or more of the components receivingand/or transmitting data, the power management application willdetermine that the radio device communicating with an additional device.

Additionally, if the processor and/or the power management applicationdo not detect any of the components receiving and/or transmitting data,the power management application will determine that the radio device isidle and the radio device is not receiving communicating with anadditional device. In other embodiments, the radio device is notmonitored or polled and the radio device sends information to theprocessor and/or the power management application specifying whether theradio device is communicating and additional device.

As noted above, in one embodiment, if the radio device is not receivingand/or transmitting data with an additional device, the radio device isidle and the power management application will configure the radiodevice to enter into a low power state 610. As noted above, the lowpower state consumes less power than a high power state. In otherembodiments, the radio device can automatically enter the low powerstate and send information of entering the low power state to theprocessor and/or the power management application.

Further, once the radio device has entered into the low power state, thepower management application will additionally decrease an amount ofpower supplied to the radio device 620. In one embodiment, whendecreasing an amount of power supplied to the radio device, the powermanagement application configures a power source of the machine totransfer a less amount of electrical energy to the radio device.

In another embodiment, if the power management application determinesthat the radio device is receiving and/or transmitting data from anadditional device, the power management application will configure theradio device to enter into a high power state 630. In other embodiments,the radio device can automatically enter or transition into the highpower state and send information of entering or transitioning into thehigh power state to the processor and/or the power managementapplication.

As noted above, the high power state consumes more power than the lowpower state. Additionally, when in the high power state, the radiodevice is communicating with an additional device by sending and/orreceiving data.

Further, once the radio device has transitioned into the high powerstate, the power management application will additionally increase anamount of power supplied to the radio device 640. In one embodiment,when increasing an amount of power supplied to the radio device, thepower management application configures a power source of the machine totransfer more electrical energy to the radio device.

Once the radio device has entered into one or more power states and anamount of power supplied to the radio device has been modified, themethod is then complete or the power management application can continueto configure the processor to determine whether a radio device iscommunicating with one or more additional devices and proceed to modifyan amount of power supplied to the radio device in response to a powerstate of the radio device. In other embodiments, the method of FIG. 6includes additional steps in addition to and/or in lieu of thosedepicted in FIG. 6.

By identifying when a radio device is communicating with an additionaldevice, an amount of power supplied to the radio device can be increasedwhen the radio device is communicating with the additional device andthe amount of power supplied to the radio device can be decrease whenthe radio device is idle. As a result, the radio device can be suppliedwith sufficient power when transmitting and/or receiving data with theadditional device and power can be saved when the radio device is notcommunicating with one or more additional devices.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus comprising: a wireless unit; a powerunit; and a controller to: cause the wireless unit to enter a low powerstate responsive to a determination that the wireless unit is notperforming wireless communication, cause the power unit to reduce anamount of power supplied to the wireless unit responsive to the lowpower state of the wireless unit.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, whereinthe controller is to cause the wireless unit to transition from the lowpower state to a high power state in response to a determination thatthe wireless unit is performing wireless communication.
 3. The apparatusof claim 2, wherein the controller is to cause the power unit toincrease the amount of power supplied to the wireless unit responsive tothe high power state of the wireless unit.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the controller is to determine whether the wireless unit iscommunicating with a remote device.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4, whereinthe wireless unit is determined to be communicating with the remotedevice when a transceiver of the wireless unit is receiving data fromthe remote device or when a transmitter of the wireless unit istransmitting data to the additional device.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the controller comprises a processor executing a powermanagement application.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the powermanagement application comprises firmware embedded in the apparatus. 8.The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the power management applicationcomprises a BIOS of the apparatus.
 9. A method comprising: determining,by a processor of a device, whether a wireless unit of the device isperforming wireless communication; in response to a determination thatthe wireless unit is not performing wireless communication, theprocessor causing the wireless unit to enter a low power state; and inresponse to the low power state of the wireless unit, the processorcausing a power unit to reduce an amount of power supplied to thewireless unit.
 10. The method of claim 9, further comprising: inresponse to a determination that the wireless unit is performingwireless communication, causing the wireless unit to enter a high powerstate.
 11. The method of claim 10, further comprising: in response tothe high power state of the wireless unit, causing the power unit toincrease the amount of power supplied to the wireless unit.
 12. Themethod of claim 10, wherein determining whether the wireless unit isperforming wireless communication comprises determining whether atransceiver of the wireless unit is receiving data from an additionaldevice or a transmitter of the wireless unit is transmitting data to theadditional device.
 13. The method of claim 9, further comprising theprocessor executing a power management application.
 14. The method ofclaim 13, wherein the power management application comprises firmwareembedded in the device.
 15. The method of claim 13, wherein the powermanagement application comprises a BIOS of the device.
 16. Anon-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructionsexecutable by a processor to: determine whether a wireless unit of adevice is performing wireless communication; control the wireless unitto enter a low power state in response to a determination that thewireless unit is not performing wireless communication; and in responseto the low power state of the wireless unit, control a power unit toreduce an amount of power supplied to the wireless unit.
 17. Thenon-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, further comprisinginstructions executable by the processor to: in response to adetermination that the wireless unit is performing wirelesscommunication, control the wireless unit to enter a high power state.18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, furthercomprising instructions executable by the processor to: in response tothe high power state of the wireless unit, control the power unit toincrease the amount of power supplied to the wireless unit.
 19. Thenon-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, further comprisinginstructions executable by the processor to: determine whether atransceiver of the wireless unit is receiving data from an additionaldevice.
 20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16,further comprising instructions executable by the processor to:determine whether a transmitter of the wireless unit is transmittingdata to the additional device.